SLHS Teacher Earns National Certification

South Lakes High School ESOL teacher Brian Crosson was one of five Fairfax County Public Schools teachers to earn certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2012.

Others earning the honor:  Courtney Dearinger and Kathleen Dion Mathis (Annandale High School); Richard Hoppock (Hayfield Secondary School); and David Pietzman (Lane Elementary School).

In addition, FCPS announced the following board-certified teachers have renewed their board certification for an additional ten years: Jennifer Orr (Annandale Terrace Elementary School); Joseph Adelman (Edison High School); Randy Miller (Glasgow Middle School); Theresa Charles (Lake Braddock Secondary School); Barbara Adams(Mount Eagle Elementary School); and Kathleen Nealon (North Springfield Elementary School).

The teachers—from FCPS elementary, middle, high, and secondary schools—have worked toward certification with their cohort over an 18-month candidacy program. 

FCPS says "the teachers become reflective practitioners as they practice continued and intense professional development and learn how to deepen their subject-matter knowledge as well as become more skillful in daily classroom instruction and student assessment in order to improve student learning. NBPTS certification, the highest credential a teacher can earn, complements, and does not replace, state licensing requirements."

National Board Certification is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do.

As part of the certification process, candidates complete 10 assessments that are reviewed by trained teachers in their certificate areas. The assessments include four portfolio entries that feature teaching practice and six constructed response exercises that assess content knowledge.

To be eligible to apply for board certification, a teacher must hold a baccalaureate degree, have taught for at least three years, and have held a valid state teaching license in his or her state for at least three years.  

During the 2012-13 school year, a total of 347 board-certified teachers are working  in the FCPS classroom or in administrative positions, the school system says.